Flushing apparatus



Oct. 15, 1935. P. G HORNELL 4 2,017,80I

FLUSHING' APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2a, 1955 5 \II'IIH Patented Oct. 15, 1935ries Application August 23, 1933, Serial No. 686,453 in Germany August26, 1933 16) Claims.

Contrivances for the flushing of the external surfaces of the cavitiesof the human abdomen are previously known, the flushing liquid beingejected or sprayed in the form of a jet or jets within a jacket open atboth ends, from one or more nozzles located adjacent to or in the jacketwall, the direction of the jet or jets forming an angle with thegeometric axis of the jacket. The spray device may be formed by one ormore openings provided in the wall of the jacket, said openings beingdirected obliquely upwards. The spray liquid then hits the parts of thebody to be flushed, either directly or indirectly by being ejectedagainst the jacket wall opposite to the inlet openings, whence theliquid is sprayed in a broken or dispersed state against the part of thebody in question. It has been found that this construction suffers fromcertain deficiencies both in regard to the manufacture and with respectto the use of the flushing apparatus. On the one hand, the douche, whenhitting the surface of the body directly should have a comparativelygreat width and, on the other hand, that portion of the jacket which isbrought into contact with the stream of spray liquid, such as a streamof water, issuing from a supply body should be kept as small aspossible. For these reasons it has been found unsuitable to give all ofthe passages extending .,30 through the wall of the jacket the samedirection. If the longitudinal axes of the passages be directedconically, for instance, relatively to each other, the manufacture ofthe device will be rendered dimcult and expensive. If, on the otherhand, the spreading of the douche were to take place by the jet or jetshitting a part of the jacket wall and by said jet or jets beingdeflected back againstthe surface of the body in question, the flushingpower of the water would be considerably reduced.

In addition, the provision of a water-tight connection between theperforated jacket wall and the exit of the liquid-supplying devicewould, in the presence of a great water pressure on the ,45 outside ofthe jacket wall, for instance as described in my co-pending applicationSerial No. 510,523, now Patent No. 1,963,329, give rise toconstructional difiiculties, while involving also the disadvantage of aconsiderable portion of the 50 external surface of the jacket beingwetted.

The present invention refers to an improved construction, whereby saidinconveniences are obviated. The principal feature of the invention is adevice for the flushing of the cavities of the human abdomen, saiddevice consisting of a 1 jacket open at the top and the bottom andprovided with a spray device and with a handle, the spray being ejectedlaterally of the geometrical axis of the jacket, and the invention issubstantially characterized by one or more openings in 5 a supply bodyfor flushing liquid, said openings being arranged outside and/or belowthe wall of the jacket, the flushing liquid being forced. out

through said openings and ejected into the space enclosed by the jacketby reason of the kinetic 10 energy already imparted to the liquidoutside and/or below the jacket. The wall of the jacket may have one ormore passages or slits extending therethrough, the liquid issuing fromthe opening or openings of the supply body for the flush- 5 ing liquidbeing introduced through said passage or passages, the opening oropenings of the passage or passages on the outside of the jacket beingpreferably located either adjacent to the exit opening or openings ofthe supply body for 20 the flushing liquid or at some distance from saidexit opening or openings, While the liquid outlet or outlets of thesupply body for the flushing liquid may also be arranged in such amanner that one or more atomized jets may bypass the 25 jacket wall andbe sprayed into the interior of the jacket, for instance from a pointbelow the lowerborder of the jacket.

Other features characteristic of the invention will be set forth in thefollowing description of 30 a few embodiments thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. l is an elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 represents a corresponding partial sec-.35 tion;

Fig. 3 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of that portion of the jacket with which it isplaced against the outlet40 of the supply body for the liquidillustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 shows the jacket viewed from below;

Fig; 6 is a plan view of the outlet endof the supply body to which thejacket is connected; Fig. '7 shows a part broken off the outlet endillustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows diagrammatically a vertical longitudinal section of afurther embodiment Fig. 9 also is a diagrammatic representation of afurther embodiment shown in vertical longi tudinal section.

' In the drawing, l designates a hollow cylindrical jacket pipe which ismovably arranged on the cylindrical part 2Which serves as a valve housis a cross-section on line III-III in ing. The jacket pipe is providedwith a bore, through which the bent-down end portion 3b of the L-shapedpart 3 is extended. The one shank of this part 3 is provided with ahandle 4. The bent-down end portion 3b is fitted into a recess 30 in thepart 2. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the front surface of the bent-down endportion 3b is shaped so as to engage a correspondingly shaped surface ofsaid recess. Provided on the end of the part 36 is a projection 5bearing against a correspondingly shaped surface of the recess. Aclosure device consisting of a stopper 6 is screwed into the rear end ofthe part 2. Inserted between the projection 5 and the inner circularsurface of the stopper 6 is a spring I. A disk 8 of brass, for instance,and provided with a central aperture bears on a shoulder inside thejacket pipe I.

' itedby the upper edge of the jacket I9.

This disk is influenced by a pressure spring 9 which is compressedbetween the disk 8 and an annular flange IU of the part B, said springthus exerting a pressure on the disk and consequently 'on thejacket'pipe I, so that the latter will be pressed to the left in theembodiment shown in Fig. 2, the several parts taking the positionillustrated in this figure when the device is not operated. Provided inthe left half of the part 2 is a longitudinal bore I I receiving a valvespindle I2 carrying a circular valve disk I3. When the device is notoperated, said disk I3 bears on a packing I4 provided between the part 2and a cylindrical part I5 screwed into the part 2 (see Fig. 2), and thewater supply is cut off from the bores I6 provided in the left hand wall(Fig. 2)

of the jacket pipe I, a spring ll surrounding the spindle I2 pressingthe disk I3 against the packing I4, so that the central opening in thelatter will be closed. The liquid pressure prevailing within the part 2as well as the pressure of the springs 9 and IT aid toward keeping thevalve disk in closed position. I8 denotes a packing, consisting ofrubber, for example. The left end (compare Figs. 2 and 3) of the jacketpipe I is provided with an undercut recess 2i) (Figs. 6 and '7), theedges of the recess converging downwardly, as illustrated in plan viewin Fig. 6. The outlet openings I6 (Fig. 6) open into this recess 20.Removably connected to this end is the jacket I9 surroundingthesprayed-out liquid, a

' dove-tailed projection 2| on the right hand wall of the jacket (Fig.2) being introduced into the undercut recess 29. The projection 2| hastwo passages of a suitable cross-sectional area extending therethrough,the liquid forced out from the openings I6 being introduced through saidpassages into the space within the jacket.

Through an inlet opening 23, towhich the one end of a flexiblereinforced tube may be connected in any suitable manner, the interior ofthe body containing the valve is in connection with a water-supplyingmeans such as the ordinary domestic water-supply system.

In operation, the device is grasped by the hand, the upper edge of thejacket I9 being laid against the part of the body to be flushed.

As will be seen from Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a relative movement between thehandle 4 and the righthand part 4a of the liquid-supplying body issuflicient to bring about a displacement of the jacket pipe I to theright (Fig. 2), this movement being efiected most conveniently by thehandle 4 being grasped with the ball of the hand and the part 4a withthe index-finger, the two parts being thus approached to one another.

When the jacket pipe I with the jacket I9 positively secured thereto isdisplaced to the right (Fig. 2), the valve spindle I2 will also bepressed to the right by a projection 23a on the perforated head wall ofthe jacket pipe I, against the liquid pressure and the influence of thesprings 9 and II, the valve disk I3 being then lifted from its seat anda connection established between the interior of the device (bore II)and the openings I6. Through the latter, flushing liquid is thenejected, which liquid is forced through the passages 22 of the jacketwall by reason of the kinetic energy imparted to the liquid alreadyoutside the jacket. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the liquid jets ejectedthrough the openings I 6 will hit baflie surfaces provided in thepassages 22. Through the baffle effect the jet of liquid will bedispersed in the form of a douche directed'obliquely upwards against thearea lim- The passages 22 have such a cross-sectional area, or areotherwise formed in such a manner, that a. considerable spreading of theflushing liquid is obtained within the jacket.

- If upon completed flushing the pressure by means of which the parts 4and 4a were moved towards each other be discontinued, the parts willreturn into their original position shown in Fig. 2 through theinfluence of the springs 9 and Il, aided by the water pressure in boreII the valve disk being then again brought back onto its seat so as tocut off the connection between the interior of the liquid-supplying bodyand the apertures I6. Finally the spring 9 causes the handle 4 to remainfixed with respect to the other parts of the device. It is obvious thatthe lever action produced by the handle 4* and the parts adjacentthereto may be produced by any system having a handle, the jacket pipeI, the part 2 and pivots provided at a suitable point. It is alsoevidentthat the water supply within the jacket wall may also be effectedby the jacket being forcibly pressed by means of handle 4 against a partof the body located in the proximity of the part to be cleaned, and thatthe handle will then approach the part4a.

as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. In this case ings I6 due to theaction of this vacuum-whichwould give rise to the obvious inconveniencethat in a subsequent flushing such sucked-in liquid would contaminatethe fresh quantities of water-there are provided in the joint betweenthe liquid-supplying body and the jacket wall facing the same, airpassages, such as slit-like recesses 24, in the jacket projection 2I,such airpassages communicating with the outlet for the flushing liquid.On any pressure below atmospheric ensuing within the liquid-supplyingbody air will be sucked in through these air passages and through theopenings I6, forestalling thereby a non-desirable vacuum. Thus a smalldistance will be produced by the recesses 24 between the openings I6 andthe passages 22. Provided the openings and passages in question aresuitably formed with regard to their shape and size, the whole quantityof liquid ejected from the openings IS will be introduced through thepassages 22, and further no flow of the used flushing water Hereby to acertain toward the outside of the jacket will take place.

'As no water pressure, but rather a reduction of the air pressure isproduced in the joint Zil-Z i (by injector action), no packing means arerequired between the removable jacket and the liquid-supplying device.

Fig. 8 shows diagrammatically a vertical longitudinal section of theoutlet end together with the jacket of a further embodiment of thedevice according to the invention. Here, 25 designates the inner space(corresponding to the bore l I in Fig. 2) of the hollow body, into whichwater enters under pressure on the operation of any suitable device, notshown. 28 is a jacket removably secured to the part 25 by means notshown.

- 2! denotes an outlet opening located outside and below the outerjacket wall. When the flushing water is admitted, this water enters intothe space 25 under pressure and is forced out through the opening 21 asa powerful jet. Opposing the opening 21 is a bafile surface 28,transforming the jet into a douche directed obliquely upwards againstthe area limited by the upper border of the jacket. The baflie surface28 is formed so as to impart to the douche a sufiicient width. It willalso be possible by a suitable construction and disposition of thebaffle surface to influence the other properties of the douche. It is byno means necessary that the opening 2'! be disposed at a distance belowthe lower border of the jacket. The opening may be arranged in closeproximity to the border of the jacket, or somewhat higher, in whichlatter case the jacket wall will at a corresponding point be providedwith a bore or an opening, or with a slit extending by a certaindistance upwardly from the lower border of the jacket. This obviouslywill be true also with respect to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-7.

Evidently, the dpening 2? may be formed in such a manner that the waterjet is caused to impinge upon the opposite portion of the inner wall ofthe jacket so as to be dispersed into a douche without the aid of aspecial disk 28. The flushing power, however, will be reduced hereby,and this arrangement can be recommended only where a great waterpressure is available.

According to experience, there is, with the embodiment shown in Fig. 8,the possibility, even if it is small, that used flushing water drops 01fthe jacket onto the disk 28 when the flushing operation has beencompleted, or, if no disk is present, may come into contact with thewall of the opening 21. As from a hygienic point of view it is desirablethat each jacket be used by one individualonly, and that the flushingwater already used should come into contact neither with another jacketnor with other parts of the device, preference should be given in saidrespects to the embodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7.

Fig. 9 shows diagrammatically a further embodiment of the outlet endtogether with the jacket of a device according to the invention. Here,25 designates the inner space (corresponding to the bore H in Fig. 2) ofa hollow body into which water is admitted under pressure on theoperation of a regulating device, not shown. 26 is a jacket removablysecured to the part 25' by means not shown. 21' denotes an outletopening situated outside the jacket and at the upper border of the same.When the said device for the flushing water is operated, the latterenters into the space 25 under pressure and is forced out through theopening 2'! as a powerful-jet.

pressed thus that one or more coherent jets of flushing water entirelysurrounded by a wall and limited by walls on all sides are released forgood or temporarily already outside the jacket wall or above or belowthe border of this wall, or outside and/or above or below this border..10

In place of the two openings l6, Fig. 2, there may be a greater numberof openings or a single opening, provided that the number of passages 22is correspondingly increased or decreased, or

that other alterations are made with regard tothese passages,corresponding to the position and the number of the outlet openings Hi.

In connection with the device shown in Figs. 1-7, the transformation ofthe liquid jets intoa douche takes place by the jets impinging upon the"bottom surfaces of the passages 22 provided in the wall of the jacket.This transformation may also take place in some other manner, forinstance by the insertion of suitable baflle disks or plates between theopenings It and the passages' 25 22. Also, the opening or openings I6 aswell as the passage or passages 22 may be provided with bafile surfaces,or be caused to cooperate with baflie surfaces, in order to effect thedispersion of the liquid in stages. It is also possible to give 'so theopenings it such a shape, or to make these openings cooperate with suchbaflie surfaces, out side the jacket, that the flushing liquid issuingtherefrom would take the form of a douche without being subjected to anyfurther influencesi Furthermore, the douche could be produced outsidethe jacket wall by the arrangement of a plurality of smaller outletopenings in the supply body, either a plurality of passages or a singlepassage or slit of a greater cross-sectional area 40 being then providedin the Wall of the jacket.

Finally, there is the possibility, as hereinbefore stated, to cause theflushing liquid to bypass the jacket wall, for instance at a point belowthe jacket border, and to be sprayed into the interior of the jacket inthe form of a jet or jets that may be dispersed, if desired, suchdispersion then being effected in any suitable manner, for instance bybaffle plates and/or a suitable construction of the spray nozzle ornozzles. In such embodiments where the liquid is introduced into theinterior of the jacket through one or more passages extending throughthe jacket, it maybe preferable to have the cross-sectional. area of thepassage or passages increasing in a direction toward the inner wall ofthe jacket, if desired over a restriction. It is also possible to formthe opening or openings (compare l6, Fig. 2) of the liquid-supplyingbody in such a manner that they are flared outwardly, so as to transformthe ejected liquid into a douche which is forced into the interior ofthe jacket below the lower border thereof or through one or moreopenings or slits provided in the jacket wall. When there are aplurality of openings (16) in the supply body, 5 the size, number anddirection of these openings may be chosen so that the liquid leaves thesupply body as a douche which is then introduced, into the space limitedby the jacket, below the lower border of the jacket or through one ormore openings or slits provided in the jacket wall. Any combinations ofthe embodiments described obviously fall within the scope of theinvention.

What I claim is:- 1. In a device for the flushing of the externalsurfaces of the cavities of the human abdomen, the combination with ajacket open at the top and bottom, of a spray device for directing afree jet of flushing liquid into and laterally of the geometrical axisof the jacket, said spray device comprising a supply body for a flushingliquid, and jet-projecting apertures extending through the wall of saidsupply body, said apertures being located in a portion of the wall ofsaid body exterior to and positioned laterally of said jacket and beingdirected into and laterally of the space enclosed by said jacket;whereby the jet of flushing liquid ejected into said jacket is, afterdisintegration into a spray, directed against the area bounded by theupper border of said jacket.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said apertures of thesupply body are positioned to eject flushing liquid in jet form belowthe wall of said jacket.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said apertures of thesupply body are positioned to eject flushing liquid in jet form abovethe wall of said jacket.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall of said jacket isprovided with openings, and the said apertures of the supply body arepositioned to direct a jet of flushing liquid through said openings.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the a wall of said jacket isprovided with openings, and the said apertures of the supply body arepositioned adjacent to but spaced from said openings in the jacket wall.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall of said jacket isprovided with openings through which the liquid ejected through theapertures of the supply body enters the jacket, in combination withmeans associated with said openings for dispersing into spray form thejet of liquid projected from said apertures.

'7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 5 wall of said jacket isprovided with openings through which the liquid ejected through theapertures of the supply body enters the jacket, in combination withbaflie surfaces at said openings for dispersing into spray form the jetof liquid projected from said apertures.

' 8; A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall of said jacket isprovided with openings through which the flushing liquid enters saidjacket, said openings increasing in cross-sectional area in thedirection towards the inner surface of the jacket wall.

9. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply bodyand jacket are in contact and an air passage communicates with theaperture of the body to prevent induction of used liquid from the jacketand into the supply body by reason of occurrence of pressure belowatmospheric within the supply body upon termination of the flushingoperation.

10. In a device for flushing the external surfaces of the cavities ofthe human abdomen, the combination with a jacket comprising a wall openat the top and bottom, of means for directing a spray of flushing liquidupon the area defined by the upper rim of said jacket; said meanscomprising nozzle means at the exterior of and spaced from the saidjacket wall for directing a jet of flushing liquid into the said jacketand at an angle to the axis thereof.

PER GUSTAF HGRNELL.

